Brandon Stanton's Blog, page 254

“I’m heading back to the office so I’m...

“I’m heading back to the office so I’m trying to walk as slow as possible.”

“I always wanted kids, but my wife never thought it was the...

“I always wanted kids, but my wife never thought it was the right time. She’s an accountant at a major investment bank. She was the only woman in her position, so she thought if she took time off, she’d fall behind everyone else. She always said: ‘We’ll have kids later.’ Now she’s an account manager, and her job is more secure, but she’s 46 and I think it’s probably too late. A few days ago we were eating breakfast, and a cartoon came on the television, and she said: ‘I wish we’d had a child.’ Then we started talking about adoption a little bit. She seemed unsure, but I’m up for it if she is. Maybe this was God’s way of steering us toward a less fortunate child.”

“He’s always taking me to restaurants that...

“He’s always taking me to restaurants that I’ve never been to and introducing me to foods that I’ve never tried. The first birthday we ever spent together, he took me to this really unique Japanese restaurant. Then he spilled tea on me.”
“It was a Chankonabe restaurant.  It’s the food that sumo wrestlers eat. And it was water, not tea.”

“I’m not sure what it is about this job, but the chicks love...

“I’m not sure what it is about this job, but the chicks love it. I used to wear a suit and tie to work—nothing. Now I get photographed more than The Beatles.”

“I was retired for a little while. But my wife’s...

“I was retired for a little while. But my wife’s ‘to-do’ list got so long, I thought: 'I’m going back to work.’”

Brandon,You photographed my wife Megan and me on New Years Eve...

Brandon,

You photographed my wife Megan and me on New Years Eve in 2013, on fifth avenue. We were on our way from the opera to ring in 2014 at the 21 club. When you shared our photo on your site, your caption was that we met in Austria, on a train, in the snow.

On Monday Megan gave birth to our daughter Lotte (our first child), who had been diagnosed with a serious congenital heart defect (HLHS). On Thursday she underwent open heart surgery for nine hours. Although the procedure was technically a success, an unexpected complication prevented them from taking off the heart lung bypass in the OR. The surgeon made an unprecedented decision to keep her on ECMO (life support) for a few days to allow her heart to rest, so that they could try again to restart it.

She has basically been in stable condition, but over night developed some complications that necessitate trying to start weaning her off the machine today. I have no words to describe the torture we feel as parents, when all we can do is sit by our daughter’s beside, trying not to look at the tubes and wires coming out of her open chest, and holding her cold little hand. I had two magical days with Lotte, who before the surgery was basically a “normal” baby. We got to touch her, feed her, change her, and we’re so lucky to even see her open her eyes. I’m not a religious person so I’ve not prayed, but I constantly close my eyes and picture Lotte with her beautiful eyes open. I’m not sure I’ll ever see those eyes again, but I’m so thankful that I have them in my mind.

I wanted to ask whether you could somehow help us increase awareness of pediatric congenital heart disease, which is sadly not widely known and publicized. It’s especially hard for Megan that today is Mother’s Day, and perhaps you could share a photo of Lotte on your site. Doing so would not only inform your readers of this important and terrible condition, but help us hear the support of others.

Thank you so much.

Adam

“I think she’s going to like horror movies as much...

“I think she’s going to like horror movies as much as I do. She told me her imaginary friend has a bloody jumprope.”

“She passed away when we were eleven. Everyone says we look...

“She passed away when we were eleven. Everyone says we look like her. We went to visit our great grandfather before he died, and he was very sick, but when he saw us, he started mouthing: ‘Angie, Angie.’”
“I think I look more like her.”
“I think I do.”

“Our mother was American and our dad was from Ivory Coast....

“Our mother was American and our dad was from Ivory Coast. From the ages of two to five, we went to live with my father’s family in Africa, because he wanted us to have culture and discipline. Our mother kept asking when we were coming home, and my father kept stalling, until one day she got so mad she threw a hammer through the wall. The next day she bought a plane ticket. Here’s a photo from the day she came and got us.”

“Our mom had a C-section, so we’re not sure who was born...

“Our mom had a C-section, so we’re not sure who was born first. But I was named first.”
“But I got into Columbia first.”
“Only because she applied first. But I was captain of the fencing team.”
“She was the official captain, but the team still came to me for advice.”